By Jess Bidgood
Sept. 9, 2011
BOSTON — Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has been sentenced to serve eight years in prison.
The Democrat was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year. Prosecutors said he used his office to close lucrative state contracts in exchange for kickbacks.
Under the sentence, DiMasi will have to forfeit the $65,000 he made from the scheme. His co-defendant, Richard McDonough, received a seven-year prison sentence. He'll have to repay the $250,000.
The two have between six and eight weeks to report to prison. Judge Mark Wolf is still deciding whether they can remain free pending an appeal.
